Gov`t Positive to Moscow Declaration, But Opposing Party Asserts No Change of NK

A government authority said, ``The NK-Russia Joint Declaration is positive in that Russia promised to support and take a constructive role in the resolution of the problems in the Korean peninsula. The NK`s demand for the withdrawal of the U.S. Army seems a repetition of the past position. We will closely observe the future moves of the North.``

He also added that ``In the summit talks, chairperson Kim Jong-Il confirmed his position on withholding the missile launch plan until 2003. That could be interpreted as the North urges for the NK-U.S. dialogue and the NK-Japan dialogue.``

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com